One of the Interfaith Council’s major goals is to identify issues of paramount priority to the religious community and to develop suitable programs and projects in response to the priorities identified by the Council. Under the leadership of Education Chairman Ed Wilder, several Issue Forums have been created to address this goal. 

Hosted by the IFC, the Forums have provided qualified panel members who have shared experiences and information on the selected topics.  Issues explored have included violence in our community, family values, faith and reason on the college campus and immigration.  In addition, IFC partnered with the Interfaith Center of UNF to provide an opportunity for youth representatives from different faith groups to share their experiences and challenges.

The next Issue Forum will be “Health and Faith: Loving Neighbor and Self,” co-hosted by ICF and Baptist Health. The Forum will be held on May 11, 2010 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Baptist Medical Center, 800 Prudential Drive in the Tower Building, 8^th floor – Doctor’s Dining Room.  Everyone is invited to attend and admission and parking is free.

Additionally, the Interfaith Council forwarded the following statement, in keeping with our mission and beliefs, to all City Council members to support the confirmation of Dr. Parvez Ahmed to the Human Rights Commission.   

“The Interfaith Council of Jacksonville is pleased to endorse Dr. Parvez Ahmed for a position on the Human Rights Commission. The City of Jacksonville will be enhanced by a man of his credentials serving on that committee. There should not be any judgment on the basis of faith. The Interfaith Council of Jacksonville represents 20 faith groups here in Jacksonville and believes in justice and equality. We urge an end to the conflicts that are dividing people and the hatred and bigotry which underlie them.”

The Interfaith Council would like to invite you to become a member and support our efforts.  Yearly individual memberships are $50.00. Checks should be written to The Interfaith Council of Jacksonville and mailed to Cathy Horan, Hodges Presbyterian Church, 4140 Hodges Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

May we appreciate our diversity and celebrate our unity.

Helen Godwin, President

Interfaith Council of Jacksonville